Oxford man tells story of how his father survived Holocaust through ‘ingenuity and perseverance’
Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day and 80 years since Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated
Last updated 27th Jan 2025
A man from Oxford has spoken to us about how his father survived the Holocaust “through ingenuity and perseverance” as today marks Holocaust Memorial Day.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day also marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
‘One of two children from a small town who remained alive’
Ruvi Ziegler, 45, is part of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, he said: “I am the son of Holocaust survivors.
“My father went through the Holocaust when the what's the Nazis took over part of what was then Poland 1941. He only really managed to survive it due to ingenuity and to the help of some friends who were non-Jewish.
“Virtually, almost everyone from the extended family was exterminated, and so he was one of two Jewish children from a small town who remained alive.
“These were obviously very abnormal circumstances, and they required a degree of ingenuity, but also perseverance.”
Mr Ziegler also said: “On the other side of my family, my maternal grandparents were living in Germany in 1938, and then the Night of Broken Glass, otherwise known as Kristallnacht, happened and my grandfather was taken to Dachau concentration camp.
“They managed to leave Germany virtually penniless just before the gates were closed.”
He added: “There are horrible things happening and have been happening since and we say never again.
“So, it's both in memory of those who suffered, but also to try and really convey the message that this can happen, and we need to closely guard against that trying to happen.”
Oxford Holocaust Memorial Day service:
The Lord Mayor of Oxford’s Holocaust Memorial Day service will take place today at 12pm in the Assembly Room, Oxford Town Hall, with members of the public invited to attend the service.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Rowley, will be joined by representatives from Oxford’s faith communities, Anneliese Dodds MP and students from Cheney School, who will present their creations for the ‘80 Candles for 80 Years’ project.
Councillor Mike Rowley, Lord Mayor of Oxford, said: "The Holocaust Memorial Day service is a vital opportunity for our community to come together and remember the past, as a steadfast stand against injustice. Peace, tolerance and understanding continue to be more important than ever.
“We reaffirm our commitment to standing against hate in all its forms.”